Fixing Yakima's streets -- $20 car-tab fee a road map to repairs?

Yakima's streets, on average, are going through pavement's version of a midlife crisis. Now the City Council has to decide how to handle this largely unfunded problem.

Joe Rosenlund, the city's operations manager for streets and traffic, puts the roads situation this way: "We're kind of at a tipping point. We're kind of OK."

Doing nothing now could mean that nearly 60 percent of the city's streets would be in poor condition or failing by 2020, which means the bill would be astronomical.

"It's prohibitively expensive," Rosenlund said about reconstructing a significant portion of the city's streets. "If you let your entire system get that far, you can't afford it."

The council holds a public hearing tonight to gather input on whether the city should form a transportation benefit district, which would allow the city to consider one of several funding mechanisms for street repair.

Some jurisdictions have formed a district without tapping a revenue source, but the council's discussion has focused on adding a $20 car-tab fee for vehicles registered in the city.

The $20 fee, which would bring in $1 million per year, is the highest the council can impose without a public vote. Any amount up to $100 could be put on the ballot, however, as well as small tax increases or tolls.

The predominant feeling on the council has been that the fee would not survive a public vote, but it's an open question whether the council has enough support to pass the charge on its own.

The council's most vocal champion on the road issue was Dave Edler, who opted not to run again and was replaced last month by Sara Bristol.

Bristol has voiced concern about the impact on residents of a car-tab fee and a separate utility tax, which began this year and will support adding a dozen police officers over the next two years.

Councilman Rick Ensey had joined Edler on the need to address streets.

"I don't think we have a crisis going. It's certainly one of those things we've never directly funded," Ensey said Monday.

His solution would be to carve money out of the existing budget for about $500,000 a year in maintenance. He does not support the car-tab fee, and said a bond should be reserved only for major capital projects.

Money down the (pot)hole?

Midway through last year, the council discussed a separate street bond that could have generated up to $30 million for street repair and replacement. That option, which street officials say was by no means a deluxe proposal, would require a public vote and has not received much attention since.

Bonds require 60 percent voter approval to pass. The last successful street bond was in 1986.

Altogether, the city is responsible for nearly 900 lane miles. That breaks down to 85 real miles of arterials, or thoroughfares; the rest is residential, which is typically not eligible for state or federal transportation dollars.

Right now, about 1 percent of the city's street inventory is considered failing. About 70 percent is rated good or above.

The council first discussed focusing on failing streets with the annual car-tab revenue. But in memos to the council, public works staff has suggested that may not be the most cost-effective fix -- akin to putting good money down a bad hole.

Repairing higher-use arterials that are in somewhat better shape -- but still needing work -- makes more sense in the long term, according to staff. The city would lengthen the life span of these important streets and help build public confidence in the repair program, public works director Chris Waarvick said in an interview.

Due to budget constraints -- driven by a decline in real estate taxes that are dedicated to street projects, and other hits to the city's general fund -- the city right now can only afford to seal cracks and cover potholes.

Regular chip-sealing -- the next step up in street repair -- hasn't been done for several years. The step beyond that is a process called grind and overlay, which replaces the first few inches of asphalt. Reconstruction of a road is the biggest-ticket option.

Whether a street is considered failing depends largely on the condition of the underlying roadbed. Cracks or potholes let water in, weakening or displacing the ballast.

Costs range from 30 cents per yard for chip sealing to $10 to $20 per square yard for reconstruction.

An annual round of chip sealing costs about $600,000. Covering the entire city would take 10 to 12 years.

Dave McFadden, president of Yakima County's New Vision economic development agency, said companies looking to relocate or expand in Yakima care more about the overall financial health of local governments than streets.

"I haven't heard them express, 'What is the pothole situation in Yakima?'" McFadden said.

Still, roads mean access and they're important.

"If roads become so bad that industry can't move their freight, can't move their people, then, yes, at that point it becomes an issue," he said.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.

If you go

WHAT: Public hearing on a possible transportation benefit district.

WHEN: 7 tonight.

WHERE: City Council chambers, 129 N. Second St.